According to Research, Christmas Music is Bad for Your Mental Health
But does it look like I give a damn?
If you’re like me and work in a retail job, you know the nightmare that is Christmas in retail — angry customers, stressed staff, and not being able to move an inch without being asked a question. But, without a doubt, the worst part is most definitely the same Christmas songs being played over and over and over again. I’m writing this article at the time when the Christmas lights are being switched on at the centre I work in, and the classic Christmas anthems are already being played on a loop.
I wish not to be misunderstood, Christmas music can be one of the best parts of the festive season and I probably listen to it more often than is healthy. But, there is a difference between it being by choice, and it getting to the point where the constant repetition at such a high volume just makes you feel as though it is driving you mad. Musical psychology researcher, Dr. Victoria Williamson, says that this is actually true, and that Christmas music does essentially drive you mad. This is due to the psychological concept called ‘mere exposure effect’ — Williamson explained that there is a “U-shaped relationship between the amount of times we hear music we like and our subsequent reaction to it”. This simply means that the more often Christmas music is played, the more we begin to hate it, and eventually it gets to the point where we work harder on concentrating to block it out than concentrating on what we are actually doing. Clinical psychologist Linda Blair says that although casual Christmas music listeners are barely affected when shopping, those working within retail face the toughest strain. This can cause a certain amount of damage to those working in retail jobs, as the constant strain from the concentration combined with the stress of the holiday season in general simply makes work almost unbearable. It gets to the point where it becomes almost grating, and your internal monologue goes from “I need to get this, this, and this done” to “oh great, Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas is playing again”.
Despite this, when I’m not at work, I love Christmas music. It makes me excited for the time I’ll spend with my family and the general perks that come with it being Christmas — snow, cosy jumpers, hot chocolate, and candy canes! There’s nothing quite like listening to Christmas music when decorating the tree, or when you’re sitting alone on a train and need a bit of cheering up. There’s so many great things associated with the season other than music, and Christmas is almost always associated with happy memories. In 2015, an Irish gift card company undertook a research study and found that four out of five people think that Christmas is the happiest time of year. Other findings included:
- Fairytale of New York was the top festive song (indisputable)
- 9 out of 10 people feel happier giving a gift rather than receiving one (I mean, who doesn’t love putting a smile on someone’s face?)
- Home Alone was voted the most festive movie, with Miracle of 34th Street coming in second, and It’s a Wonderful Life at third (though personally I’d say Muppets Christmas Carol, How the Grinch Stole Christmas, and Nativity! are the ones to beat. But that’s just me)
Sure, Christmas music playing in shopping centres is a bit of a drain on the brain. But the rest of the festive season is something that warms even the coldest of hearts, so why are we wrong to embrace that? We can’t escape from Mariah Carey, George Michael, or Wizzard. But do we want to escape from twinkling lights, crackling fires, and the rustling of wrapping paper? No, I don’t think we do. I certainly don’t.
With thanks to Rebekah Ashleigh.
Research taken from:
